Actuatable fastener for air bag module vent

• US 20020043790A1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Lynch, James P., Elqadah, Wael S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,746,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflatable protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (18) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (14). A housing (16) directs inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source (18) toward the protection device (14). The apparatus (10) includes a vent opening (30) in the housing (16) for selectively venting inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus (10) also includes a member (50) movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from the housing (16) and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus (10) further includes an actuatable fastener (12) for holding the member (70) in the closed position. The actuatable fastener (12) comprises an air bag inflator initiator (100).

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a retainer securing said initiator in said actuatable fastener.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a bolt and a nut.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bolt comprises a retainer crimped on said initiator, said bolt including said initiator being screwed into said nut.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said nut is screwed into a threaded portion on said housing to secure said actuatable fastener to said housing.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one of said movable member and said housing has a threaded portion, said nut of said fastener being screwed into said threaded portion to secure said fastener to said movable member.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said initiator comprises a pair of terminal pins, a heating element electrically connected across said terminal pins, and an ignitable material ignitable by said heating element.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said initiator is crimped into said actuatable fastener.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said flash cup comprises a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member when moving form the first position to the second position causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further comprising a sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 comprising an opening and a member movable between a closed position covering said opening and an open position enabling fluid flow through said opening, said actuatable fastener holding said member in the closed position.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said opening is a vent opening in a housing of said apparatus.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 comprising an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant, and an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition, said housing directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source, said vent opening in said housing selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a retainer securing said initiator in said actuatable fastener.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a bolt and a nut.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said bolt comprises a retainer crimped on said initiator, said bolt including said initiator being screwed into said nut.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said nut is screwed into a threaded portion on said housing to secure said actuatable fastener to said housing.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein one of said movable member and said housing has a threaded portion, said nut of said fastener being screwed into said threaded portion to secure said fastener to said movable member.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said initiator comprises a pair of terminal pins, a heating element electrically connected across said terminal pins, and an ignitable material ignitable by said heating element.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said initiator is crimped into said actuatable fastener.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein said flash cup comprises a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member when moving form the first position to the second position causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener, and further comprising s sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.

13. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising an actuatable fastener, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator.